Apple tree named &#39;regalnat&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apple tree denominated ‘REGALNAT’ produces high yield of firm fruits with large size, round slightly flattened shape, and a luminous dark red skin color, having exceptional eating quality; the fruit is further characterized by its good handling, its tolerance to main apple pests and diseases and its storage qualities.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No.2019/3252 filed on Nov. 29, 2019 (Nov. 29, 2019) which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malusdomestica Borkh.

Variety denomination: ‘REGALNAT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY Field of the Invention

In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuingplant-breeding program including the organization and reproduction oforchard trees, among which apple, peaches, nectarines, apricots, andcherries are exemplary. It was against this background of our activitiesthat the present variety of apple tree was originated and reproduced byus in our experimental orchard located near Elne, Pyrénées Orientales,France.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new a distinct variety of apple treeMalus domestica Borkh. which has been given the variety denomination‘REGALNAT’. This tree produces fruits with a long shelf life withoutalteration after harvesting, very good eating quality with a white fleshfor fresh market in September or October in the Pyrénées Orientalesdepartment, France. Contrast is made to ‘REGALYOU’ apple tree variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,827) for reliable description. Contrast is alsomade to the parent varieties of ‘REGALNAT’, that are ‘ARIANE 6407RT’(female or seed parent non patented) and ‘SELECTION INRA 6062RT’ (maleor pollen parent non patented).

‘REGALNAT’ is a promising candidate for commercial success in that itproduces very attractive fruits having a long shelf life.

The present new variety of apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) wasdeveloped by us in our experimental orchard located in France.‘REGALNAT’ apple tree originated in a cultivated area of the South ofFrance, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department where it was also tested.This zone also called Roussillon is subject to a Mediterranean climate.The winter is generally sweet and the summer is hot and dry. The totalamount of cold hours lower than 7° C. (Celsius) varies from 700 hours to1200 hours. The total amount of sunshine hours is an average of 2400hours to 2800 hours per year. The prevailing wind is called“Tramontane”: it dries the air and clear the sky from cloud, but itsintensity can be strong and affect the harvest, fruits quantity and/orquality. Marine moisture does not affect the place. Precipitations areirregular through the year and from one year to another. The amount ofrainy days does not exceed 80 days per year and are mostly found inSpring and Autumn. In May and October, very intense precipitationsoccasionally happen, and the summer is dry with a few thunderstorms.

The ‘REGALNAT’ variety results from a pollinated cross between the‘ARIANE 6407 RT’ apple tree (non patented) which was used as a seedparent and the ‘SELECTION INRA 6062RT’ apple tree (non patented) whichwas used as the pollen parent.

The ‘REGALNAT’ variety was obtained by hybridizing and propagated bygrafting on a ‘M9EMLA’ (non-patented) rootstock trees. It has beendetermined to have unique tree and fruits characteristics making itworthy for commercial fresh fruits production. There are no knowneffects of the standard rootstock tree set forth above on the scioncultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original treeand all characteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. Theplant was asexually reproduced by us in Les Régalines, Route d'Alenya,La Prade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées Orientales, France. Moreparticularly, the plant was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new variety ‘REGALNAT’ produces fruits of large size, firm andcrunchy, and with dark red color. The blooming period is medium for thevariety, namely in the middle of April. The maturity period isconsidered late, usually at the end of September or early in October, inthe South of France. However, it was observed that its early date ofblooming and maturity seems to be highly dependant on climaticconditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietyas depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible in colorillustrations of this character. These specimens were obtained at theElne Experiment Station, South of France.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph which shows a tree of the new variety inorchard.

FIG. 2 is a close view of a branch of a tree of the new variety inorchard, for depicting the branches and leaves of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph which shows three whole fruits of the newvariety at ripening time, and a fourth fruit, cut in a half intransverse cross section for depicting the fruit flesh, the seeds andthe locules of the new variety; two leaves are also shown, for depictingboth surfaces of the leaves.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show close views of typical specimens of the new variety,at ripening time.

FIG. 6 is a close view of a branch of a tree of the new variety inorchard bearing fruits.

The enclosed photographs show plants in their fourth growing season(third year of production).

Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves andfruits depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate whencompared to the actual botanical specimen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety ofapple tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations ofspecimens grown near Elne, South of France, with color in accordancewith The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by The RoyalHorticultural Society of Great Britain.

The trees, flowers and fruits may vary in slight detail due tovariations in soil type, cultural practices and climatic conditions.

The main characteristics of this new variety of semi-sweet apple are alarge fruit size with a color of skin considered dark red. The fruitflesh is cream. The fruit is firm.

The time of beginning of flowering is medium whereas the time ofbeginning of fruit ripening is considered late.

In comparison with the ‘REGALYOU’ apple tree variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 25,827), ‘REGALNAT’ apple tree ripens earlier during the season.Namely, the fruits of ‘REGALNAT’ apple tree variety ripen 5 to 7 daysbefore the fruits of ‘REGALYOU’ apple tree variety. Also, the bloomingperiods of ‘REGALNAT’ is also different from the blooming period of‘REGALYOU’, as the flowers of ‘REGALNAT’ usually bloom a few days laterthan the flowers of ‘REGALYOU’. Fruits are also different in regards offruit shape: ‘REGALNAT’ fruits are considered to be round and veryregular whereas the shape of ‘REGALYOU’ fruits is considered to beobloid, round to slightly flatten. The skin color of ‘REGALYOU’ fruitsis considered bright red on approximately 70-80% of the fruit skin,whereas the fruit skin for ‘REGALNAT’ is colored with a very luminousred covering approximately 90 to 100% of the fruit skin surface, on awashed orange red background.

The flavor of the ‘REGALNAT’ fruit flesh is considered to be perfectlybalanced between sugar and acidity, whereas the fruits of ‘REGALYOU’present a lower acidity, with a semi-sweet taste.

Compared to its seed parent, which is the ‘ARIANE 6407RT’ apple variety(non patented), the fruits of the new variety ‘REGALNAT’ ripenapproximately one week earlier. The fruits produced by the ‘REGALNAT’variety are bigger than those produced by its seed parent (respectivelybetween 75.0 and 80.0 millimeters, vs. between 65.0 and 75.0millimeters). The skin color of ‘ARIANE 6407RT’ fruits is considered redon approximately 75% of the fruit skin, on a washed red background,whereas the fruit skin for ‘REGALNAT’ is colored with a very luminousred covering approximately 90 to 100% of the fruit skin surface, on awashed orange red background.

The pollen parent of the new variety, which is the ‘SELECTION INRA6062RT’ apple variety (non patented), considering the observations wehave made on our production site, ripens approximately during the secondhalf of September, usually from September 13^(th), until September26^(th). The REGALNAT variety ripens approximately at the same time incomparison with its pollen parent. ‘REGALNAT’ fruits are considered tobe round and very regular whereas the shape of ‘SELECTION INRA 6062RT’fruits is considered to be round and flattened. The skin color of‘SELECTION INRA 6062RT’ fruits is considered red on approximately 80% ofthe fruit skin, whereas the fruit skin for ‘REGALNAT’ is colored with avery luminous red covering approximately 90 to 100% of the fruit skinsurface, on a washed orange red background. The fruits of the ‘SELECTIONINRA 6062RT’ have a fruit stem considered long, whereas the length ofthe fruit stem for the ‘REGALNAT’ variety fruits is considered medium tolong.

The ‘REGALYOU’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,827) apple tree variety isconsidered as good pollinators for the new variety ‘REGALNAT’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of apple tree, the following has been observed on treesin their fourth growing season (third year of production) under theecological conditions prevailing at the orchards located near the townof Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France.

All observations have been done on rootstock cultivar. The rootstock wasa ‘M9EMLA’ (non-patented) tree. All major color code designations are byreference to The R.H.S. Color Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by TheRoyal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.

-   Tree:-   Generally: The first year the apple tree is generally cut at 2.50    meters height. The length in one year for each lateral shoot varies    from 0.60 meters to 0.80 meters. We are cutting the apple trees    during the second year to a height of 2.50 meters. The form of the    apple trees is cylindrical and the diameter is limited to 1 meter.    -   -   Size.—Medium to high as compared to other commercial apple            cultivars. The tree size the first year was approximately            2.50 meters. The tree was pruned during each following            dormant season to a height of approximately 2.50 meters.            Current season's shoots growth could reach 0.80 meters. So,            the tree size from the second year (second and next years)            reached a final height of 3.10 to 3.30 meters with current            seasons shoots length comprised.        -   Spread.—Approximately 1.0 meter with a cylindrical shape.            The whole orchard was oriented to a central leader            organization, with tree lines spaced of 4.0 meters and trees            spaced of 1 meter in a same tree line.        -   Vigor.—Medium to strong, tree growth reaches 0.60 to 0.80            meters the first growing season.        -   Productivity.—Good to very good productivity, every year and            without alternation. The new variety produces adequate fruit            set annually on a regular basis. The number of the fruit set            varies with the prevailing climatic conditions and cultivar            practices employed during the bloom period and is therefore            not distinctive of the present variety.        -   Bearer.—Very regular every year.        -   Type of bearing.—On spurs and long shoots.        -   Type.—Ramified.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Form.—Naturally semi-spread.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of France            and especially where the chilling requirement is between 700            and 1200 hours. More particularly, experimentations on the            same orchard in Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, with            winter chilling requirement below 7.2° C. comprised between            700 hours and 1200 hours according to the specificities of            the year, namely 1031 hours in 2012-2013, 777 hours in            2013-2014, 893 hours in 2014-2015, 718 hours in 2015-2016,            825 hours in 2016-2017, 1017 hours in 2017-2018, 844 hours            in 2018-2019, 706 hours in 2019-2020 showed a good behavior            of the tree in all cases. No injury with temperatures as low            as −12° C. in winter. Good resistance to late frosts.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Approximately 62.0 to 68.0 millimeters (4^(th)            growing season) above 20.0 centimeters above the ground.        -   Bark texture.—Rough with lenticels.        -   Lenticels.—Small number of lenticels. The number of            lenticels reaches 2 lenticels per cm².        -   Lenticels size.—Approximately 1.0 millimeter height and            between 2.0 and 3.0 millimeters width (4^(th) growing            season).        -   Lenticels color.—Color of lenticels is considered beige (RHS            Greyed Orange 164 C or RHS Greyed Orange 164 D).        -   Bark color.—Brown to grey (RHS Grey 201 B or RHS Grey 201            C).-   Branches:    -   -   Diameter.—Branches at the 2nd growing season have an average            diameter of 7.0 to 11.0 millimeters.        -   Surface texture.—Rough.        -   Lenticels.—Lenticels on mature branches are medium with a            diameter of about 1.0 to 2.0 millimeters and a stretched            round shape. The number of lenticels reaches on mature            branches 4 lenticels per cm². The lenticel color is beige            (RHS Greyed Orange 165 C or RHS Greyed Orange 165 D).        -   Color.—Branches are brown (RHS Grey Brown N200 B).        -   Crotch angles.—Approximately 45.0 degrees from the            supporting branch. This particular characteristic is not            considered distinctive of the variety, however.        -   Internode.—Generally from 16.0 to 20.0 millimeters length.-   Current season shoots:    -   -   Diameter.—Average diameter from 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters.        -   Surface texture.—Rough, with approximately 4 lenticels per            cm².        -   Lenticels.—Considered medium with a diameter of 1.0            millimeter and a round shape. The lenticel color is beige            (RHS Greyed Orange 165 C or RHS Greyed Orange 165 D).        -   Crotch angles.—Approximately 30 degrees from the supporting            branch. This particular characteristic is not considered            distinctive of the variety, however.        -   Internode.—Generally, from 18.0 millimeters to 21.0            millimeters length.        -   Color.—The color of current season shoots is considered            brown (RHS Brown 200 B or RHS Brown 200 C) on lower part of            shoots, and the color of the upper part is similar and            colored in brown (RHS Brown 200 B or RHS Brown 200 C).-   Bud scales:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large.        -   Shape.—Elongated and conic in shape.        -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—The inside of the bud scales is yellow green (RHS            Yellow Green 145 A) and the outside of the bud scales is            purple brown (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A).-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium for the species. The ratio leaf length/leaf            width is 1.865.        -   Length.—The medium length is 91.0 millimeters without leaf            petiole.        -   Width.—The medium width is 48.8 millimeters.        -   Leaf form in transverse section.—Concave.        -   Leaf form.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Round-shaped.        -   Margins.—Slightly undulating.        -   Margins shape.—Crenate.        -   Surface texture.—A thin pubescence on lower surface of the            leaves. No pubescence on upper surface.        -   Thickness.—Considered medium thick.-   Leaf color:    -   -   Upper leaf surface.—Green (RHS Green 147 A).        -   Lower surface.—A lighter green (RHS Yellow Green 148 B) than            the upper leaf surface color.-   Leaf veins:    -   -   Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined.-   Mid-vein:    -   -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 millimeters.        -   Color.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 C) to purple (RHS            Greyed Red 181 A) at the basis, evolves with maturity.-   Secondary veins:    -   -   Color.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 D).-   Leaf petioles:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Length.—About 27.0 to 35.0 millimeters. The ratio between            the leaf length and the petiole length is approximately 3.        -   Diameter.—About 2.0 to 2.5 millimeters.        -   Color.—The upper surface is brown, slightly purple (RHS            Brown 200 A or RHS Brown 200 B). Lower surface is purple            (RHS Greyed Purple 185 A).        -   Shape.—Smooth.-   Leaf stipules:    -   -   Generally.—No leaf stipules were observed.-   Flowers:-   Flower buds:    -   -   Generally.—At pre-floral stage of development, the floral            buds are made up with 5 buds having a conic shape with a            round tip. Their form is evolving until blooming, with            variables dimensions. Just before blooming, floral buds are            approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters in width and            approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters long. Just after            blooming, the flower shoots are approximately 9.0 to 11.0            millimeters long and 5.0 to 6.0 millimeters in width.        -   Distribution of flower buds.—The distribution of the flower            buds is considered homogenous on the trees. Flower buds are            found in groups of 3 to 5.        -   Color.—This characteristic is dependent upon the proximity            to bloom. At pre-floral stage of development, the bottom of            the flowers buds, or calyx formed by sepals, or flower            receptacle, is of green color (RHS GREYED GREEN 194 B to C).            The corolla formed by petals, is generally pink to purple            (RHS Greyed Purple 186 B or RHS Greyed Purple 186 C).        -   Hardiness.—The buds are considered hardy under typical            central Pyrénées-Orientales department climatic conditions.            No winter injury was noted during the last several years of            evaluation in the central Pyrénées-Orientales department,            with winter temperatures as low as −10° C. in January. The            current variety has not been intentionally subjected to            drought or heat stress, but the variety showed a very good            resistance in orchard to temperatures up to 42° C. with an            average temperature between 28° C. and 30° C. during 3 weeks            in summer.        -   Date of bloom.—Generally, in the middle of April. The first            bloom was observed from April 8^(th) until Apr. 17, 2011.        -   Blooming time.—Considered medium in relative comparison to            other commercial apple cultivars grown in the            Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The date of bloom            varies slightly with climatic conditions and cultural            practices. Thus, the full bloom was observed from April            8^(th) until Apr. 17, 2011, then from April 12^(th) until            Apr. 24, 2012, then from April 23^(th) until May 4, 2013,            then from April 13^(th) until Apr. 22, 2014, then from April            14^(th) until Apr. 22, 2015, then from April 14^(th) until            Apr. 22, 2016, then from April 8^(th) until Apr. 15, 2017,            then from April 20^(th) until Apr. 30, 2018, then from April            26^(th) until May 3, 2019 and then from April 22^(nd) until            May 5, 2020.        -   Blooming period.—Average 8 to 14 days. This characteristic            varies slightly with the prevailing climatic conditions.        -   Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a showy type            flower (rosette).        -   Flower size.—Considered medium to large. Average diameter of            the corolla is between 22.0 and 28.0 millimeters when            totally opened.        -   Flower bud frequency.—Generally 5 to 6 flower buds appear            per node.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet.-   Petal:    -   -   Size.—Considered medium for the species.        -   Length.—Generally between 12.0 and 12.5 millimeters.        -   Width.—Generally between 7.8 and 8.2 millimeters.        -   Petal form.—Round.        -   Petal margins.—Slightly undulating.        -   Petal count.—Usually 5.        -   Arrangement of petals.'Intermediate.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth.        -   Petal color.—White (RHS White 155 D) to pale pink.        -   Fragrance.—Soft.-   Petal apex:    -   -   Generally.—The petal apices are generally round in shape.-   Petal claw:    -   -   Form.—The claw is considered to have a narrow form.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 millimeters.        -   Color.—White (RHS WHITE 155 D), similar to the petal color.-   Flower pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average length between 20.0 to 25.0 millimeters.        -   Diameter.—Between 1.7 and 1.8 millimeters.        -   Color.—Green (RHS Yellow Green 146 C or RHS Yellow Green 146            D).-   Calyx:    -   -   Color.—At the stage F of blooming, when the flower is open,            the inner surface of the calyx, or flower receptacle, is of            greenish color (RHS Yellow Green 153 D). The outer surface            of the calyx is also considered green (RHS Green 138 A).        -   Texture.—The inner surface is smooth.-   Sepals:    -   -   Size.—Usually considered medium.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 3.0 to 4.0 millimeters.        -   Number.—Generally 5 sepals per flower.        -   Sepal form.—Triangular.        -   Margins.—Smooth.        -   Texture.—The sepal texture is smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface of the sepals is green (RHS Greyed            Green 194 B or RHS Greyed Green 194 C), and the lower            surface is also green (RHS Greyed Green 194 C).-   Stamens:    -   -   Average number of stamens per flower.—Approximately 12 to 15            stamens per flower.        -   Size.—Variable in length, approximately between 5.0 and 6.0            millimeters in length, generally higher than pistil's            length.        -   Size compared to petals.—The size of stamens is smaller than            the size of petals.        -   Color.—Considered white (RHS White 155 C).-   Pistil:    -   -   Generally.—The pistil is composed with carpels. The pistil            is considered smaller than the stamens.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters long including            the ovary, smaller than stamen's length.        -   Color.—Considered light green (RHS Yellow Green 151 B to RHS            Yellow Green 151 C).-   Stigma:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 millimeter.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Color.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 151 A).-   Ovary:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 millimeters.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.0 millimeters.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Green (RHS Yellow Green 151 A).-   Anthers:    -   -   Size.—Small.        -   Form.—Cordate.        -   Color.—Considered Green to slightly Yellow (RHS Yellow Green            154 C).-   Pollen:    -   -   Generally.—Pollen is abundant and stamens are fertile.        -   Color.—Pollen has a yellow color (RHS Yellow 5 C) which may            evolve with maturity.-   Fruits:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm at maturity.        -   Date of first picking.—Sep. 10, 2011, varies slightly with            climatic conditions.        -   Date of last picking.—Oct. 5, 2016 varies slightly with            climatic conditions. The harvest is generally performed in            two runs.        -   Ripening period.—The ripening period is considered late and            begins during September. More particularly, the ripening            period usually begins at the end of September. However, the            ripening period sometimes begins earlier, namely at the            beginning of September. Thus, last known picking times carry            on from September 20^(th) to Sep. 26, 2009, then from            September 10^(th) to Sep. 17, 2011, then from September            15^(th) to Sep. 22, 2012, then from September 28^(th) to            Oct. 4, 2013, then from September 20^(th) to Sep. 26, 2014,            then from September 27^(th) to Oct. 2, 2015, then from            September 28^(th) to Oct. 5, 2016, then from September            6^(th) to Sep. 12, 2017, then from September 22^(nd) to Sep.            29, 2018, and then from September 25^(th) to Oct. 1, 2019.-   Size:    -   -   Generally.—Considered large with a homogeneous size between            the fruits.        -   Average transversal diameter.—About 74.0 to 81.0            millimeters.        -   Average axial diameter.—About 62.0 to 69.0 millimeters.        -   Typical weight.—Generally 204.0 grams. This characteristic            is highly dependent upon the prevailing cultural practices,            and therefore is not particularly distinctive of the            variety.        -   Position of the maximum diameter.—At the middle of the            fruit.-   Fruit form:    -   -   Generally.—Round.        -   Fruit ribbing.—Absent.        -   Fruit suture.—Absent.        -   Form of the ventral surface.—Smooth.-   Fruit stem:    -   -   Generally.—Considered medium to long.        -   Length.—Between 31.0 and 36.0 millimeters.        -   Diameter.—About 2.0 to 3.0 millimeters.        -   Color.—Light Brown (RHS Brown N199C).-   Stem cavity:    -   -   Form.—Shallow.        -   Depth.—Medium, average depth between 9.0 and 11.0            millimeters.        -   Width.—Between 12.0 and 13.0 millimeters.-   Fruit eye basin:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Depth.—Average depth between 8.0 and 10.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Between 10.0 and 12.0 millimeters.-   Calyx:    -   -   Generally.—Symmetrical, weakly opened.        -   Form.—Closed.        -   Pubescence.—The calyx shows a thin pubescence.-   Fruit skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Considered medium and strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Tendency to crack.—None.-   Lenticels:    -   -   Number.—High. About 5 lenticels per cm² of fruit skin.        -   Size.—Small.        -   Form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 millimeter.        -   Color.—Light beige (RHS Greyed Orange 164 D).-   Skin color:    -   -   Over color.—This over color is considered a luminous dark            red (RHS Greyed Purple 185 A) and covers 90 to 100% of fruit            skin, usually 98% of the fruit skin surface, on a washed            orange red background.        -   Pattern of over color.—Only solid flush.        -   Ground color.—The ground color is a washed orange red (RHS            Red 45 A) and covers at the most 10% of the fruit skin.-   Russeting:    -   -   Russet around stem cavity.—Very low.        -   Russet on cheek.—Absent or very weak.        -   Russet around eye basin.—Absent or very weak.-   Flesh:    -   -   Generally.—Long shelf life after harvesting.        -   Texture.—Dense, crunchy, melty.        -   Fibers.—No fibers.        -   Firmness.—Firm.        -   Aroma.—Present.        -   Juice.—Juicy at ripeness.        -   Taste.—Balanced between acidity and sweetness, good and            aromatic.        -   Brix.—Superior to 13.8 degrees until 14.7 degrees. The            medium Brix is 14.3 degrees and varies slightly with amount            of fruit per tree and climatic conditions.        -   Acidity.—Medium.        -   Color.—Cream (RHS Yellow White 158 A) at ripening time.        -   Aperture of locules in transverse section.—Closed.        -   Width of locules.—Approximately 3.0 millimeters.        -   Length of locules.—7.0 millimeters.        -   Form of locules.—Flattened.        -   Vascular bundles.—The number of vascular bundles is 10.-   Fruit core:    -   -   Form.—Symmetrical.        -   Position.—At the middle of the fruit.        -   Distinctness of core line.—Distinct.        -   Stamens.—Visible.-   Seeds:    -   -   Count.—Generally 10 seeds are present per fruit.        -   Number of seeds per locule.—Usually 2 seeds per locule.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Length.—Approximately 9.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 5.0 millimeters.        -   Form.—Ovoid.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Considered Brown (RHS Brown 200 C) at ripeness.-   Use: Dessert, fresh products, fruit juice.    -   -   Market.—Local and long distance. On the tree fruits can stay            10 days while keeping good gustative qualities. The lifetime            after picking is also good.-   Keeping quality: Good, held well for 3 to 4 months in cold storage    at 1° C. and maintained good appearance and eating quality. At room    temperature (18° C.), fruits are well preserved for about 2 months.-   Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal bruising or scarring during    picking, packing and shipping trials.-   Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: In our growing    conditions, no particular symptom was noticed. The ‘REGALNAT’ apple    tree seems to be not much sensitive to russeting or bitter pit, to    apple withering, to rot, to Monilia or Oidium, to aphids, to    leafhopper. The new variety also seems to be resistant to apple    scab.-   Robustness to winter: Very good for trees and flower buds.-   Tolerance to dryness: Good.

The present new variety of apple tree, its flowers, foliage and fruitherein described may vary in slight detail due to climate, soilconditions and cultural practices under which the variety may be grown.The present description is that of the variety grown under theecological conditions prevailing near Elne, Pyrénées Orientales (66),France (FR).

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially asillustrated and described, essentially characterized by its large size,and also characterized by its high yield and its round slightlyflattened shape, its luminous dark red skin color, its firmness, andexceptional eating quality; the fruit is further characterized by itsgood handling, its tolerance to main apple pests and diseases and itsstorage qualities.